Rashmi Krishnamurthy

Exploring the Role of Interactive Computer Simulations in Public Administration Education

Preparing public administration students for complex challenges that involve high uncertainty, stakeholder interdependencies, policy resistance, and slow feedback cycles presents unique challenges for educators. Those in the field of public administration and public policy can broaden their educational toolbox by embracing new technologies for educating future public administration practitioners. This research demonstrates that interactive computer simulations provide dynamic contexts and creative learning environments for students to individually and collectively apply systems thinking in information-rich environments with instant feedback channels. Across a series of exploratory studies using an interactive simulation focused on water uncertainty and policy options, this research has consistently found strong learning outcomes. The findings showed that students were able to quickly grasp the complexity associated with interdependent stakeholders with divergent interests, uncertain future conditions, and policy options that reflect competing values. However, this research also discovered some unintended consequences. Using interaction simulations may limit the scope of deliberation topics to only those that were highlighted by the simulation. Thus the research concludes with a discussion of some ethical concerns related to the use of computer simulations as part of an educational exercise.1

Data analytics and human trafficking

Human trafficking is recognized internationally as an extreme form of violence against women, children, and men. Despite the fact that human trafficking is universally understood to be a burgeoning social problem, a paucity of data and insight into this issue exists. Data analytics has immense potential to elucidate trends in complex social data and inform future policy. We undertook a design science-inspired research approach to build datasets on human trafficking. Three prototypes are presented that describe the methodologies of human traffickers, display correlations between calls reporting suspected trafficking activity and various demographic data, and explicate the effectiveness of US anti-trafficking funding projects.

Urban Informatics: Critical Data and Technology Considerations

Cities around the world are investing significant resources toward making themselves smarter. In most cases, investments focus on leveraging data through emerging technologies that enable more real-time, automated, predictive, and intelligent decision-making by agents (humans) and objects (devices) within the city. Increasing the connectivity between the various systems and sub-systems of the city through integrative data and information management is also a critical undertaking towards making cities more intelligent. In this chapter, we frame cities as platforms. Specifically, we focus on how data and technology management is critical to the functioning of a city as an agile, adaptable, and scalable platform. The objective of this chapter is to raise your awareness of critical data and technology considerations that still need to be addressed if we are to realize the full potential of urban informatics.